• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Changing LEDs in a Fan Controller

J

jreffy

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jul 25, 2006
Messages
300
Red LED forward voltage is about 1.6 volts which is around 1/2 the forward voltage required by blue LEDs (around 3.5 volts). Most boards limit current through the LEDs using resistors and there is a strong chance you could burn out your red LEDs unless you also change the resistors. You need to find the resistors that are connected to the LEDs and double their resistance in ohms.
 
Unless it's a High intensity red LED...

You'd be better off testing the voltage first with a multimeter and going from there.

PS, love your mod btw.
 
delbert said:
Are the existing blue LEDs surface mount type?
Click to expand...

I'll take it apart when I get home and get some pictures up. I'll also have to see if I can track down a multimeter. This will be my first real attempt at working with LEDs.
 
Boyo said:
Loved your mod. That was a lot of work and it looks great.
Click to expand...

Thanks! really appreciate it! It's still in progress. My laser etched window is on its way in. I just have to finish a few small bits to the case (PSU blowhole grill, paint some interior parts) before I can mount my hardware, and then I just have to paint and wetsand the exterior.
 
That same fan controler is six bucks at Voyeurmods right now.

You might also consider the Sunbeam Rheobus. This has combo red/blue LEDs, with red at low RPM, blue at high RPM. The LEDs are socketed so swapping them out is easy, or the red/blue can be reversed by just swapping the leads.

Problem with it is the LEDs are BRIGHT! I am thinking of adding a resister to the common lead to dim them if possible.

-- Rev
 
You can change the LEDs but you need to double the resistance to go to red. Either unsolder the resistors in the circuit or solder in new ones so that the resistance is doubled. Red ones will appear to work at first, and then just burn out.
 
You dont necessarily have to double the resistance. In fact it would be kind of negligent for the circuit to be designed in such a way that the amount of current let through the blue LED is right at its limit. Voltage isn't a problem with LEDs, it is the current let through it. What you need to do is find out the current flowing through the LEDs.That will tell you if you need to make any change to the resistors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top